lighting for a fuge

[grannybj]

Ok so I have this clamp on fixture on my fuge and a 60 watt
bulb. I have noticed that my cheato is shrinking and shrinking. It is about gone . I have the light on for about 7 hours a day . Is it my bulb and if it is , what kind of bulb should I get? I did read that I should look for something with a yellow hue. I have not had a chance to go look for another bulb so I thought I would ask for guidance first.
BJ

 

[Del123]

Go to Lowes and buy a grow bulb, or go to your friendly LFS and buy a bulb for A fuge

 

[dzones]

I just use one of those screw in fluorescent bulbs that are low wattage. energy bulbs i think they are called. I have a 200w equivalent that I use in one of those hang up reflectors (wal mart 6 bucks) and leave it on 24/7.
The chaeto grows like crazy. I have to remove lots every couple weeks.
My fuge is a 20h

 

[grannybj]

I will pick up one of those bulbs...if it don't revive my pitiful little wad of chaeto..I may beg you for some discards...Thanks ...

 

[dzones]

absolutely. I have tons of it

 

[zebrafish]

Bj,

I ahve some if you need it as well. I was going to post this weeekend if anyone was in need of cheato. I was thinking of thinning out some.

 

[Fun $ Pit]

I could trim some of my chaeto as well. Free - all you have to do is pick it up.

 

[willember]

I've read than having low iron levels can cause macros like chaeto to wither. I use iron based phosphate filter media, & run 96 watt CF over 6" deep fuge. Chaeto grows like crazy. REALLY crazy.

 

[dzones]

I've read than having low iron levels can cause macros like chaeto to wither

huh. I never knew that.... makes sense though

 

[JamesBryan]

cheap lighting works on my macro

cheap lighting works on my macro

I use both the screw in ESU daylight and the Sunshine (chroma 50) tube. Either works well. I've used the $7 under cabinet fixture that includes a warm white bulb and it works too. Walmart or Lowes the reef supply place that fits my budget.

 

[Doris M]

BJ, dzones is right. Leave the light on all the time.. Neuroslicer told me this awhile back when my chaeto looked awful and thin and it actually works and another thing I have found if your skimmer is in your fuge back up on the skimming until your chaeto can take a hold and it will help. Sometimes you can take all the nutrients away from the chaeto.

 

[grannybj]

ok I will leave it on all the time. I got the 200 watt bulb and my fixture was not right for it . As soon as I feel better, I will go get another fixture . My skimmer has been off for the last 4 days while I treat my clown with melafix. The skimmer was causing deep foam on top of my water in the sump and the pump was sending it to the main tank and making a mess so I shut it down while I treat the clown.
Some one mentioned earlier that low iron would cause cheato to fail...how do you raise the iron ?